Saturday, December 18, 2004
Thoughts on NBA hoops and 82games.com
Statistical analysis is like crack for depraved sports junkies. To be able to scrutinize, compare, contrast, and pontificate on a player or team's production accounts for at least 80% of all sporting broadcasts. 'Player X is shooting 55% from 3-pointland on the back end of games played on consecutive nights,' etc. It's one of the reasons that Moneyball has become such a phenomenon in the baseball world, as it debunks a lot of statistical information and prioritizes what stats are crucial to winning ball games. Now, pro basketball has their own version (unofficially). 82games.com keys in on something my friend Brent and I theorized a few years back: a +/- category. The NHL uses one. Why not the NBA? You can track the efficiency of your team by looking at which players have the most impact on the court and off it. It's just one of the many facets of minutiae this site hones in on. Delve in further and see for yourself.
While we're talking about the Association, lets have a little round-up, shall we?
My thoughts on the Vince Carter trade can be summed up by saying, "It's just another trade."
1. Vince Carter is the single most overrated player in the NBA. Period. "He's an All-Star talent, but not an All-Star player," as NBA pundit Tim Legler accurately states.
2. Though he fits well with Jason Kidd in New Jersey, the Nets are far from being a threat. The landscape of the Eastern Conference is left relatively unchanged by this move. Carter will benefit from not having to be the "go-to-guy" which, as we all know, he's pathetic at. Toronto is actually a better team without him on the floor. He's absolutely nowhere in the last two minutes of tight games. He can't defend. So you see, having the pressure diverted to Kidd may help him just a little.
3. Though Toronto got relatively little personal-wise in the deal (Mourning with his troubled health and the scrubs Williams) the two first round picks they acquired could be huge down the road. In the long term, it seems as though the Raptors may have the better of the deal, especially since they couldn't win with Vince Carter in the lineup to begin with.
4. What exactly is it that the Nets are doing? If you're going to shell out that kind of coin and draft picks for a guy like Vince Carter, why didn't you just keep Kenyon Martin this past summer? Two contradictory moves. Martin stands to make only $5 million more this season.
Switching gears.
After watching Phoenix nip Seattle last night, I have to say that I'm a believer in the Sonics. I've been skeptical of their success all season up until last night. They're just a solid club that can run the floor and shoot the lights out. Turns out that last night the Suns were able to do it 2 points better. I used to think Seattle would fade, but I don't think that'll happen. The team I (and everyone else, really) pegged in the pre-season as the team to finish last place in the entire Western Conference will make the playoffs -- even if they don't keep up this amazing winning pace.
After only a month, there has already been a lot of talk about the MVP. Steve Nash's name has come up frequently after he nabbed NBA player of the month for November and can be pin-pointed as the difference between last year's dismal Phoenix squad and this year high octane offense commanding the best record in the league. Still, this is far too early to be discussing MVP. However, in the interest of conversation, this is, as of today, what my top 5 ballot would look like.
1. Kevin Garnett
2. Amare Stoudemire
3. Tim Duncan
4. Steve Nash
5. LeBron James
Also in the running are Allen Iverson (if Philly should improve), Shawn Marion (though he takes a backseat to Amare and Nash), Ray Allen (who is leading the surprise team of the year with big numbers), and Kobe Bryant (leading the league in scoring, carrying the playoff-bound Lakers right now). Oh right, plus you've got Shaq and Dwayne Wade in Miami to consider.
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While we're talking about the Association, lets have a little round-up, shall we?
My thoughts on the Vince Carter trade can be summed up by saying, "It's just another trade."
1. Vince Carter is the single most overrated player in the NBA. Period. "He's an All-Star talent, but not an All-Star player," as NBA pundit Tim Legler accurately states.
2. Though he fits well with Jason Kidd in New Jersey, the Nets are far from being a threat. The landscape of the Eastern Conference is left relatively unchanged by this move. Carter will benefit from not having to be the "go-to-guy" which, as we all know, he's pathetic at. Toronto is actually a better team without him on the floor. He's absolutely nowhere in the last two minutes of tight games. He can't defend. So you see, having the pressure diverted to Kidd may help him just a little.
3. Though Toronto got relatively little personal-wise in the deal (Mourning with his troubled health and the scrubs Williams) the two first round picks they acquired could be huge down the road. In the long term, it seems as though the Raptors may have the better of the deal, especially since they couldn't win with Vince Carter in the lineup to begin with.
4. What exactly is it that the Nets are doing? If you're going to shell out that kind of coin and draft picks for a guy like Vince Carter, why didn't you just keep Kenyon Martin this past summer? Two contradictory moves. Martin stands to make only $5 million more this season.
Switching gears.
After watching Phoenix nip Seattle last night, I have to say that I'm a believer in the Sonics. I've been skeptical of their success all season up until last night. They're just a solid club that can run the floor and shoot the lights out. Turns out that last night the Suns were able to do it 2 points better. I used to think Seattle would fade, but I don't think that'll happen. The team I (and everyone else, really) pegged in the pre-season as the team to finish last place in the entire Western Conference will make the playoffs -- even if they don't keep up this amazing winning pace.
After only a month, there has already been a lot of talk about the MVP. Steve Nash's name has come up frequently after he nabbed NBA player of the month for November and can be pin-pointed as the difference between last year's dismal Phoenix squad and this year high octane offense commanding the best record in the league. Still, this is far too early to be discussing MVP. However, in the interest of conversation, this is, as of today, what my top 5 ballot would look like.
1. Kevin Garnett
2. Amare Stoudemire
3. Tim Duncan
4. Steve Nash
5. LeBron James
Also in the running are Allen Iverson (if Philly should improve), Shawn Marion (though he takes a backseat to Amare and Nash), Ray Allen (who is leading the surprise team of the year with big numbers), and Kobe Bryant (leading the league in scoring, carrying the playoff-bound Lakers right now). Oh right, plus you've got Shaq and Dwayne Wade in Miami to consider.
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